SPRINGDALE -- One catch for seven yards.
Those are the numbers for Brady Patrick, the top returning receiver for Springdale Har-Ber. The Wildcats must replace 10 starters on offense, including the top four wideouts. Gus Vitt, Camden Scott, Matt Garrison and Zach Vaughn are gone after combining for 144 catches, 2,563 yards and 28 touchdowns last season.
The Skinny
Position Battle: Receivers
Biggest Strength: Lot of athleticism with Trey Smith, Brady Patrick and Kaleb Pianalto, who will lend size to the receiving corps. Patrick and Pianalto are baseball players making the transition to football.
Biggest Question Mark: Har-Ber lost its top four wideouts from last season, and this new group is woefully inexperienced on the varsity level. Time will tell whether these Har-Ber receivers will make the clutch catches on Friday nights.
Watch Out For: Trey Smith flashed his athleticism in 7-on-7 competition during the summer. He was a standout in junior high, and Har-Ber coaches are hopeful can make an immediate impact as a sophomore in the state’s toughest conference.
The lost production at receiver would be a major concern for most coaches, but Har-Ber coach Chris Wood takes the departures in stride.
"It just means we've got a lot of new guys to get plugged in," Wood said. "Fortunately, this new group played under that senior class of receivers last year, and they know how to practice and get things done. They're a young group, but I like our guys."
Har-Ber received a surprise boost last year from Camden Scott, who had 37 receptions for 722 yards and led the Wildcats with 14 touchdown catches. Patrick (5-foot-10, 160 pounds) could also emerge in the passing game after playing sparingly as a sophomore. Patrick displayed his athletic ability in the spring as a standout pitcher and hitter for Har-Ber the baseball team.
"Brady's got good speed and good hands," Wood said. "He'll be one of our deep threats."
Har-Ber fans are excited about the arrival of sophomore Trey Smith (5-7, 140), who rushed for more than 1,800 yards as a quarterback in junior high. Smith is a multipurpose athlete who will be used at receiver, running back and as a quarterback in the Wildcat package.
Smith is sure to get a lot of action, and his coaches are confident he can hold up physically in the rugged 7A-West despite his small stature.
"Trey is pretty tough for his size," Har-Ber receivers coach Dustin Helmkamp said. "He can run; he can catch; he can do a lot things. He's exciting to watch."
Har-Ber has high hopes for Kaleb Pianalto (6-3, 180), another baseball player who decided to join the football team his senior year. The Wildcats also anticipate contributions from junior Tyler Blackston (5-9, 170) and senior Peyton Powell (6-2, 175), who can play slot receiver or tight end.
"Kaleb hasn't played football in about two years, so he's trying to adapt and learn the position again," Wood said. "But he's a big kid and a good athlete. Tyler was a running back in junior high, but he's going to play receiver for us. He's real good at judging the ball then going up and getting it."
Sports on 08/13/2014